Cigarrte Smoking question

Mehrad,

I am not a smoker, never have been.

Don’t worry about smoking, by week 3 – 4 (if you are like any of us) your side effects will dictate how much and how often you smoke.

While cessation of smoking is a given beneficial, I would not use too much brain power thinking about it.  Treatments can be hard and if you can wrap having a cigarette into staying hydrated and nourished then more power to you.

The best laid plans for treatment can go awry.  Take things one at a time or one cigarette at a time as it may be.

Matt

Hello!  I can speak from experience about smoking.  I thoughly enjoyed smoking also!  It was my reward system when it was time to relax.  When I was nervous or sad or happy, it was time for a cigarette....well, you know.  So much of life revolved around having a cigarette.  Then I started enjoying smoking less because I started coughing more and more.   Maybe I was coughing because I had throat cancer Stage 4.  HA!  Anyway, about two months before my diagnosis, I quit.  I wish I could tell you how strong I was and that I quit cold turkey, but no, I used Chantix.  Now you still have to work on quiting, but it helps you from going crazy.  Even with Chantix I cheated a little because I knew I was going to quit eventually and did.  I wonder if you could use Chantix while doing treatment.  I had radiation and Chemo and believe me, you don't want to smoke.  I had blisters in my mouth and well, of course raditaion burns.  When you complete your treatment it will still take a while for the healing process.  Also, saliva is less.  After my treatment, I even cheated a few times but then I figured out I couldn't without going back.  So no more for me!  Hey, it sure gives you a lot of freedom.  Now I can go anywhere I want and not worry about where I'm going to smoke.  Good luck to you!  Gosh, I hope this helps a little.

I quit with Chantix.  Four months now.  I didn't stop smoking after a heart attack nor after my stroke.  Even after the tongue cancer and surgery, I smoked after a few weeks.   After taking the Chantix for about three weeks, I quit.  I didn't want to but felt I had to.  It helps with the strong urges and helps you adjust to non smoking.  I still think like a smoker, still think about smoking but I'm not frantic about it now.

mehrdad357 said:

Hello Tonita, SueBee2011 and

Hello Tonita, SueBee2011 and Phrannie51,

I started Chantix yesterday morning (10/2). It is strange, cause I took it around 11 AM and till 4 PM I did not smoke. Then I smoked

my 2nd favorite brand (Merritt Ultima) and it tasted like plain smoke, that is no flavor. I then smoked my favorite Brand (Carlton 100) and

that too tasted just like smoke. So I said AHA , finally victory, I am no longer a slave. However today it was a different story. I took smoked

my favorite (Carlton 100) for morning glory and it tasted great. After 1 hour I took my Chantix, hoping this was my only cig. of the day.

I then smoked my 3rd favorite which is very strong (L&M) 2 hours after Chantix and it tasted real good. After lunch I smoked Carlton and it was good again. Around 4 PM smoked L&M and iyt hit the spot. Finally after supper I smoked Merritt Ulima and It tasted like half smoke. Overall I smoked 4 yesterday and 5 today, kind of dissapointing. So far 2 consecutive days of Chantix have produced mixed results, but I am going to take it again tomorrow, cause I really don't  want to be a slave.

One question: As of Day 4, Wed. for me, I have to take 2 pills one in the morning one in the evening. Why do you think one in the evening. Would it not cause insomnia?

   Thanks for extra support and clarification on my so far 2 day experience with Chantix.

    Mehrdad

 

 

 

 

I didn't really have insomnia from Chantix.  Set a reasonable quit date and keep taking it.  It took three weeks for me to quit.

You're doing great!  Also, I want to know how you have that many brands of cigarettes?  HA!  As for the insomnia, I don't remember that the pills gave me insomnia.  You know, you are allowed to smoke the first week.  To be honest with you, I even cheated and smoked the second week a little.  Okay, other times I cheated too...but I did quit on my own terms.  I'm very glad you are taking Chantix now and that you have started the process.  Trust me, you do not want that smoke with a dry throat or one that has had rediation.   Keep us informed about your progress! 

Being an ex-smoker I know how much you enjoy the habit.  But believe me, once it's in the rear view mirror for awhile you'll wonder why you ever smoked at all.

Now I'm going to play devil's advocate.  My late father in law was diagnosed with stage 4 mouth cancer right after he retired at 65.  He never did quit smoking or drinking even though the doctors all told him to do so.  Had his cancer gone any longer than it was he would have lost his entire mouth.  He just called it a little cancer and kept up his bad habits.  Once his wife died of cancer he went into a depression so deep he ended up with pancreatic cancer a year after her death.  We swear he got it due to a broken heart.  He was 74 when he passed and smoked and drank up until his last day.  There was no telling him anything as he was as subborn as a mule.  Did the smoking kill him?  No, the pancreatic cancer did.

If you are like him then it's a 50/50 chance.  We all advise stopping the habit but you will do what you want to do.  I used every method known to man to quit my habit.  I asked every person who had quit what they did and adopted all their suggestions, including using not Chantix, but Wellbutrin instead.  That worked really good along with the nicorette gum.  I only chewed it for two weeks and was done with it.  My habit started at 12 years old and ended when I was 37.  Even if I knew the end of the world was tomorrow, I still wouldn't pick up a cigarette.  That's how far I've come.  Please try to stop if you want to continue living.

Welcome to the forum!

Tom

I enjoyed smoking and smoked even with severe COPD [stage 3] I stopped smoking the night before I met with the tumor board. That was 3 years ago. I just never lit another cigarette again. If you really want to stop you will and yes, you can. You really have to want to stop. Don't pick a day or say I'll stop in my third week. Today is the day to pick and you just do it.  If you are still going to smoke, why are you even going through the treatment? I was told I have a 25% chance it will come back and if I keep smoking it is 90% it will return. This may sound harsh, but really, why do you still smoke. I know my brother still does and he is dying and age 75. He stopped for way over 60 days and it was out of his system, but he started back and in 3 days back in the hospital. 

I do wish you the best of luck, and you don't stop smoking. You just never light another one. Oh, don't do the Vaping thing as that will give you emphysema as well. If you stop before you get emphysema your lungs will heal and rebuild. I waited too long. Once you have emphysema you can't beat it. I beat cancer and am 3 years clear. [53% survival rate to 5 years] but I can't beat COPD. Try to stop today.

Bill

Some people cannot go cold turkey.  I know I could not.  I never really tried to do the "quit cold turkey" thingy, because I knew I'd fail.  All I'm saying is Chantix worked for me. 

lnyert said:

thanks bill

Thanks Bill, your last comment gives me hope that i can...and must quit!

I was a compulsive smoker for 50 years.  I really didn't want to quit but for obvious reasons, I had to.  Chantix did it for me in three weeks.